Reproductions are professionally printed on 8 by 10 inch heavyweight (80lb) stock and are conveniently sized to fit standard frames and mattes.

Shipping is $2 in the United States or $6 for International orders.
If you are not happy with your order, for any reason, return your purchase and your payment will be refunded within seven days of receiving the returned item. -Ernie Young

About the artwork shown here: Although I use photographs as models and create these illustrations on my computer, these are not photoshop filters nor photograph modifications. I use Adobe Illustrator and a Wacom tablet to draw globs of color on top of each other in the similar way that I paint acrylic on canvas or draw with colored pencil. To see some of my previous colored pencil or acrylic paint artwork please visit www.firefighterartist.com or www.warbirdartist.com.

I just recently retired from a career I love, to pursue a career that I love.

It all began with drawing and design. Architecture fascinated me when I was young and that started my path. I studied and practiced with angles, T-squares, compasses and all the drafting tools I could get my hands on. The practical sense of it all was terrific. I was hooked.

That is until I found the freedom that fine arts brought. No rules, no codes, no limits of the physical world. I drew, sketched, painted and sculpted until the wee hours of the morning. I could not get enough.

Then came the fire department. The big red trucks never really moved me, nor did the sirens or the glory, but when I crawled into my first burning building, breathing the fresh cool air I carried on my back, the fire crackling all around and I felt that razors edge feeling of only that moment existing, it became my world.

At the age of twenty two I swore my life to the Providence Fire Department and pursued my career as a firefighter with all the gusto and dedication I could muster. It was as an important part of my life as anything that can take it all away from you in a moment should be. The balance of creativity and practicality was amazing. I worked in the busiest fire companies I could and gave as much as I could. The days that I gave more than I could I paid for with injuries and night sweats. When the time came to make rank and become an officer, I studied the pile of books the other hundreds of firefighters studied to make the cut. Being a company officer was a new and challenging aspect of an already challenging job and I loved it all. I became family with some of the best people I could ask for and accomplished things that I could never have hoped.

After twenty four years of service, I decided that while I was still healthy enough to provide for my family, I would go back to my old love.

Bill Shelton, the owner of Art Of The BIke had invited me down to his annual Classic Bikes and Blues festival in Tinicum Park in Erwinna PA. I had met Bill the previous year at a European Motorcycle event in MA where we began talking about designs and art for his company and became good friends.

I rode my Harley down from Rhode Island laden with prints, easels and a sleeping bag. When I arrived at Bill's home, he asked me to come with him to meet some friends for dinner. I doffed the freight from the back of the bike and struggled to keep up with Bill's vintage Kawasaki 2-Stroke through the twisty roads along the Delaware River.

At the restaurant I sat down next to Cook. He was to be the Master of Ceremonies for the festival the next day and I spent the next hours in awe listening to tales of racing superbikes in the seventies, the struggles of competing against the factory racers, of Ducatis and of Old Blue.

Early this year I contacted Cook to see if he remembered me and if he might be interested in my creating a portrait of he and his Ducati. I was very surprised when he agreed, stating that he really liked my work and sent me photographs to work from.

When I completed the drawing and showed it to him I was happy to hear that he liked it and surprised when he insisted on signing a batch of prints. I packed 50 prints and some camping gear on my KLR and pointed northward. I arrived at Cook's breathtaking home and met his lovely wife Stepper. They invited me for dinner and made me feel completely at home. We ate raviolis, drank beer, watched Moto GP Racing, spoke of old cars, motorcycles, trees, land and our families. It was difficult to believe it was real and I am not sure I have ever met more wonderful people.

I am pleased to announce that I have a limited number of 50 prints of Cook Neilson and Old Blue signed by Cook himself available at MotorbikeArtist.com or here.